Field Museum poised to name Richard Lariviere president

(Crain's) — The Field Museum is poised to recommend Richard Lariviere, former University of Oregon president, to replace the retiring John McCarter Jr. as president.

The museum's board of trustees is schedule to vote on the appointment on Tuesday, according a memo obtained by Crain's.

If approved, he would replace Mr. McCarter, who announced last year that he would retire this fall after leading the museum for more than a decade.

Mr. Lariviere, a native Chicagoan, has a history of academic leadership at several universities. A search committee of Field Museum board members called him an "individual to build on John's significant accomplishments," according to the memo.

"We have found a candidate with the passion to preserve the heart of the Field and the leadership and vision to move the museum forward," John Rowe, chairman of the Field Museum's executive search committee, wrote in the document.

The memo recommending Mr. Lariviere made no mention that he was fired from his post at University of Oregon, but noted that he showed "courage, commitment and passion" during his short tenure as president "in the face of strong political differences."

"These are characteristics we value highly at the Field, and are exactly what's needed," Mr. Rowe wrote in the recommendation memo.

In addition to working at University of Oregon, Mr. Lariviere has been executive vice chancellor and provost at the University of Kansas and dean of the college of liberal arts at University of Texas in Austin.